2002 World Cup - Brazil 3 Venezuela 0

Brazil are now set to sack coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and hire Carlos Alberto Parreira after clinching qualification for the World Cup finals with a 3-0 win over Venezuela in Sao Paolo.

Scolari's job - which he took on in July - is very insecure dspite three first half goals that eased his side through to the finals despite sixqualifying defeats in an arduous campaign.

Three coaches were sacked during the CONMEBOL qualifiers and Brazil risked missing the finals for the first time ever although they outclassed Venezuela when it really mattered and could now be one of the favourites to win the title.

Luizao scored twice with Rivaldo adding the third as Brazil - who were trained to start fast and hard by Scolari in the run-up to this game - dispelled any doubts about their presence in the finals which looked uncertain until only the 12th minute of this game.

Luizao was put clear to hit a low finish and then found the net with a low shot on the run as he dominated the early chances.

Venezuela has won their last four matches after a poor run in the qualifiers saw them eliminated months ago from contention to reach Korea and Japan but Rivaldo sealed their defeat when he ran in to hit a shot from a narrow angle on the left in the 34th minute.

Venezuela captain Luis Vera was sent off for a second booking at the start of the second half but Brazil were unabmitious after establishing a commanding lead The four-times world champions rarely looked like netting a hatful of goals against opponents they regularly used to thrash soundly in the days before the arrival of such functionalists as Scolari, much criticised for his cautious approach to the game.

Real Madrid could take the Brazilians to FIFA over their decision to field Roberto Carlos in this tie despite recent injury problems but the slow pace of most of the second half could not have extended him too much.

Whoever coaches them next summer, Brazil remain contenders.

Conditions in Korea and Japan will suit teams who play on the counter attack and can slow the game to almost nothing and Brazil have the makings of a pragmatic team to do this but it's not a pretty sight.